NFL Week 9 Recap — The Raiders Are For Real & Other Things We Learned

Divisional races started to take shape in Week 9 of the 2016 NFL season. Here’s what we learned this week:

The Raiders Are For Real

Latavius Murray ran for 114 yards and three touchdowns, and the Oakland Raiders dominated the Denver Broncos, 30-20, on Sunday night. Derek Carr threw for 184 yards for Oakland (7-2), which seized sole possession of first place in the AFC West with the victory.

The Raiders outrushed Denver (6-3) 218-33 in the game. The defending Super Bowl champs were outplayed on both sides of the ball in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates. Oakland is now within reach of its first playoff berth since 2003.

The Ravens Saved Their Season

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Joe Flacco threw a 95-yard touchdown pass to former Steeler Mike Wallace, and the Baltimore Ravens beat Pittsburgh, 21-14, on Sunday, saving the 2016 season in Charm City and snapping a four-game losing streak. With the win, Baltimore (4-4) tied the Steelers (4-4) atop the AFC North.

Just three weeks removed from surgery on his right knee, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was 23 for 45 for 264 yards with a touchdown in the loss. He ran for another score on Sunday.

The Cowboys Are The NFC’s Best Team

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Dak Prescott threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, and the Dallas Cowboys routed the Cleveland Browns, 35-10, on Sunday. Dallas rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott added 92 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and tight end Jason Witten had 134 yards and a touchdown receiving for the Cowboys.

Dallas (7-1) now leads the NFC East in commanding fashion. Cleveland (0-9) is winless and hopeless. The Browns aren’t likely to get a victory in 2016 regardless of whom they play from now through the end of the regular season.

The Lions Are Roaring

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Matthew Stafford tossed a 28-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Golden Tate in overtime, and the Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings, 22-16, on Sunday. Matt Prater kicked a 58-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter to force overtime for Detroit (5-4) against Minnesota (5-3). Vikings' quarterback Sam Bradford completed 31 of 40 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles Could Be Done For 2016

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Eli Manning threw four touchdown passes, and New York beat Philadelphia, 28-23, on Sunday. The loss left the Eagles (4-4) with no divisional wins after their first three intra-divisional games for 2016. If Philadelphia can't rally soon, the Eagles could be relegated to the NFC wild card chase, if that.

Two of Manning's touchdowns went to Odell Beckham Jr. New York (5-3) kept pace behind division-leading Dallas (7-1) with the win.